From a reader:

Subject: A small favor

 

Mr. Kerstetter,

 

Kerry, please take a moment and review the content of our website: www.realestate4ira.com. I would be interested in knowing if you were familiar with these types of investments? If any synergies exist that we should discuss? And, if there would be any interest among your associates and Tax Guru Blog readers in knowing more?

 

Thank you in advance,
Steven Berman
Principal and Realtor

My Reply:

Steven:

Thanks for passing along that link.  As you may know if you have read any of my writings, I am a huge believer in real estate investments as the most reliable method to accumulate wealth, including in retirement accounts.  Unfortunately, most retirement plan custodians have a very limited range of investment vehicles, consisting mostly of stocks and CDs.  I have noticed a recent trend offering REITs, TICs and other fractional interests in real estate, of which I am not a big fan.  Owning and controlling property directly, so as not to be at the mercy of unknown and often unaccountable folks, is the safest way.

I checked your website and like that you cover a lot of tax efficient ways of owning real estate.  I am  a little confused in regard to your logistics of working with retirement accounts.  Do you act as retirement account custodians to handle the ownership for people or do you have a prototype master plan that they can use with their own personal financial advisors? 

I am interested in learning more about your services because I have constantly heard from frustrated clients and readers who want to use their retirement accounts for real estate investments but can't find plans that will accommodate that.

Thanks for any additional info you can provide.

Kerry Kerstetter

Follow-Up:

Kerry,

Please call me on my cell phone when you have a few minutes during the day… I will happily explain our services to you.

Steve

I Replied:

Steve:

I was hoping for some links to textual material that I can post on my blog and website about using IRA accounts to invest in real estate.  Do you have anything written up on that, especially a list of custodians who can handle such self directed accounts?

Thanks for any info you can provide.

Kerry Kerstetter

From Steve:

Kerry,

No problem, actually that list and their links are on the Resources page of our website www.realestate4ira.com.

I would still like to take around ten minutes to discuss things with you at a 30,000 foot level. As you know we are the ones that bring the transaction together. In that role we act as a "general contractor" linking out clients to self-directed custodians, non-recourse mortgage lenders, even to accountants and attorneys and other consultants, if need be.  We have found it essential that we help provide any other resources they may require.

Ninety percent of the time we are buyers agents, but will act as selling agent for select clients. None-the-less, we are fiduciary to our clients (i.e., buyers) but are paid by the property sellers through a traditional real estate commission arrangement, nationwide.

Steve Berman

 

 

- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 10/29/2006 03:41:00 PM Send this post: